SHERLOCK: THE EMPTY HEARSE

UK, 2014, 90 minutes, Colour.
Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman, Mark Gattiss, Una Stubbs.
Directed by Jeremy Lovering.

Sherlock: The Empty Hearse begins the third television series of the updating of Sherlock Holmes to the present, stirring Benedict Cumberbatch as Holmes and Martin Freeman as Dr Watson. Mark Gatiss, one of the creators of the series, appears as Mycroft Holmes.

The second series ended with the seeming death of Holmes, falling from a high building. Dr Watson was a witness to Holmes’ death and has now spent two years grieving. Of course, Holmes did not die and this film visualises several hypotheses of how the death was faked. In the meantime, Holmes had spent several years in Serbia and we see him tortured, being rescued by his brother, brought to London to uncover a terrorist plot in the Parliament.

One of the main difficulties is his revealing himself again to Watson, a difficult experience for both of them. Gradually, Watson is drawn into Holmes’s work and they discover a bomb under Parliament house in a disused underground station.

But the film leaves open whether Moriarty has gone and whether Holmes will confront him again.

1. The popularity of this series of telemovies, the modernisation of Conan Doyle, the cast, the stories, based on Doyle?

2. The third series? The cliffhanger with the seeming death of Holmes?

3. The possible theories of what happened, their being visualised, Holmes falling, the rope saving him, falling on the mattress, the kiss with Moriarty, the
role of Dr Watson, shielding his view, his collapse?

4. The effect of Holmes’ death on Watson, the two years of grief, his continued upset, moving out of Baker Street, the gay jokes and illusions, his reaction, continuing his work, Mary at reception, in love, the meetings with Mary, the proposals?

5. Mrs Hudson, at the house, Dr Watson leaving, Holmes return and her joy?

6. Holmes in Serbia, the interrogation, the torture, his release? The role of Mycroft? His job with terrorism in London? The discussions, reminiscences about their childhood, their family?

7. The problem of how to tell Dr Watson about his survival? Posing as the waiter, Watson not noticing, the revelation, Watson’s reaction, anger, grief? The long time taken for Watson to settle down? The discussions? Mary and her reaction, liking Holmes?

8. The terrace situation in London, the suspect, his work in North Korea?

9. Holmes and his contacts, keeping a check on them, wanting to see if there was anything abnormal?

10. Watson, his return to Baker Street, his love of adventure, telling Holmes stories, his joining again?

11. The reality of those in the know about home survival, so many? Molly and her taking Watson’s place? Helping Holmes in his cases?

12. The bomb, the mystery of the underground, the contact and his explanation, the empty train, the sealed up station, Sumatra Street? Holmes and Watson, the timing, Watson asking Holmes to use his encyclopaedic memory for defusing the bomb, desperation, the passing of time? Holmes playing a joke on Watson, defusing the bomb?

13. The arrest of the parliamentarian? The solving of the case? Holmes and Watson ready for further adventures, and the audience ready with them?